3D Printers: What materials can be used for what uses?

Nowadays, there is a very large range of materials available to print
these objects, including plastic, resin or even metal!

How does a 3D printer work? It's very simple: the object is created
with a succession of very thin layers of solidified material, as
needed, until an entire object is produced. This addition of successive
layers is the very basis of additive manufacturing.

3D printers can print almost ANYTHING. Their only limitations are technology
and the size of the printers themselves. It is therefore possible
to print objects ranging from a few microns to several meters.
To learn more about the materials available with Sculpteo, please
refer to our 3D printing materials pages.

The printing possibilities are endless, from prototyped parts to mass
production. Many industries call upon 3D printing for their unique
needs, including aerospace and aeronautics, architecture, industrial,
automobile, healthcare, education and new technologies. 3D printing
can create extraordinary things. For example, 3D printers are handling
the construction of the Sagrada Familia in Spain, or take the example
of NASA that is working on printing 3D food for their astronauts.
Read our article about 3D printing original materials
to learn more.

How much does a 3D Printer Cost?

There is a difference between personal 3D printers and professional 3D printers, and there is a wide price range. Personal
printers cost anywhere from €400 to €4000 compared to €10,000
to more than €1 million for professional printers.

The RepRap model for
example, is a personal 3D printer you build yourself that uses
fused deposition modelling technology, whereby you can create objects
using plastic filament.